Coach is left ‘gutted’ by defeat

Gatland suffers in South Africa against the Springboks after ‘probably the worst experience of my coaching career’.

Bitter blow: Wales coach, Warren Gatland, was left devastated after his side lost to the Springboks (Gallo Images)

THE dejected Wales coach, Warren Gatland, described his side’s heartbreaking
second Test defeat against South Africa as the worst moment of his coaching
career.

Wales were on course to tie the series and triumph over South Africa on
Springbok soil for the first time when they led 30-24 with two minutes
remaining.

But full-back Liam Williams’ illegal shoulder-charge on South Africa wing
Cornal Hendricks resulted in a penalty try, converted by Morne Steyn, to
deliver a punch to the Welsh solar plexus to rival the defeats to Australia
in Melbourne, Sydney and Cardiff.

Had Wales seen out the game, which they should have done with a 13-point lead
and only nine minutes to play, it would arguably have ranked as high as any
Six Nations title won by Gatland and his group of players.

Instead it was just another painful chapter in Wales’ battle to claim a major
southern hemisphere